Dimapur, Feb. 19 (EMN): Providing a fresh twist, the NSCN (IM) has claimed that a person, Wilson Kenye, whom ‘combined cadres’ of armed Naga groups allegedly ‘duped, robbed and kidnapped’ earlier, himself was rather involved in what the outfit said was extortion of INR six lakh “in collusion with some goons from innocent men” who had came to buy a truck at the Agri Expo site in Dimapur, on Aug. 1 2018.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the NSCN (IM) stated that the case was “thoroughly investigated and closed after Wilson Kenye admitted to his involvement in the crime” and repaid the “looted amount” to the victims on instalments through Toishe, a ‘major’ in the NSCN (IM) ranks.
It stated that the victims Shaikhom Shanahal Singh and Sw Mathotmi had approached the NSCN (IM) functionary for help. “The crime was a total setup masterminded by Wilson Kenye in the guise of a mediator for the seller and the buyer of the dumper truck. So, the claim of Wilson Kenye that he was a victim of extortion by Maj. Toishe is absurd.
“He was detained for interrogation and set free after paying a sum of INR 300000 initially on his‘release day’ with an ‘undertaking’ that the remaining INR 300000 would be paid within 15 days from the date of his release on 21/08/2018 by submitting a land patta of a Pochury leader in the form of mortgage as an assurance for the remaining balance at the unified command office,” read the press release.
It stated one of the local newspapers had on Jan. 11 even carried an ‘acknowledgement’ advertisement from the victims, thanking the unified command zone-I.
According to the group, Kenye’s claim to be a victim was “his desperate attempt to malign the image of NSCN and to cleanse himself of any wrongdoing.”
